Filipino Journal Alberta Edition November 2016

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Volume 8, Number 11 • November 2016

Publications Mail Agreement 40032612

Our Kababayan's Success Stories:

Kaya ko; Makakaya mo!

Canada will open the doors for 300,000 new permanent residents in 2017

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Page 9 ►

Philippine Consulate in Action:

2016 Marks Koro Filipino’s 25th Anniversary

Over 500 Renewal of Passports and Dual Citizenships Processed

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Pre-Mature Awareness Month | P7

Filipino Voice for the Airwaves | P12

Oath taking for Dual Citizenship officiated by Deputy Consul General Julius Torres and Deputy Consul Eric Aquino respectively.

Page 4 ►

No health coverage for Canadian children | P15

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

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November 2016

November 2016

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Liberal Riding Association Board Celebrates One Year

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t’s only been a year, but it's been a year to celebrate for The Edmonton Mill Woods Liberal riding association.

It only seems like yesterday when the federal Liberal campaign team defied all odds and secured victory. To commemorate, the board put on a spectacle to remember.

MP Amarjeet Sohi was on hand to greet party members as they entered through the doors of the Maharaja Banquet Hall

on October 21 for a night of celebration.

After delicious appetizers, which included freshly fried, sizzling jalebis, riding President Mohammad Hussain opened the formal part of the program by introducing himself and the start of a new Liberal era in Millwoods – one that will choose love over fear and inclusion instead of division. Indigenous educator, activist and elder Walter Bonaise

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blessed the gathering with a Cree prayer before the man of the night, Amarjeet Sohi, addressed the crowd of 300 with his plans going forward.

After the formal program, it was time to sit back and enjoy dinner and drinks with fellow Liberal members. The new Edmonton Mill Woods riding association board started 2016 with a bang and more is yet to come in the New Year.

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November 2016

Philippine Consulate in Action:

Over 500 Renewal of Passports and Dual Citizenships Processed The Consulate has not authorized any person or entity to collect any payments in its behalf and will ONLY ACCEPT payments on site in MONEY ORDER or BANK DRAFT made payable to the PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL. Personal checks will NOT be accepted.

One money order may be used to pay for all application fees of family members applying on the SAME DAY and must reflect the correct and exact total charge.

For details about their services, please visit their website at www.calgarypcg.org.

VOLUNTEERS, APPLICANTS, AND PHILIPPINE

Philippine Consulate General in Calgary

CONSULATE'S STAFF: Headed by Consul General Julius Torres and facilitated by Mr. Benjie Lindo, Chairman of Duterte Volunteers. With Heber Bartolome around.

Schedule of Fees: (Effective 01 January 2016) Service Fee e-Passport Renewal/First Time application C$81.00 Replacement of Lost non-e-Passport C$121.50 Replacement of Lost e-Passport C$202.50 Acknowledgment/Authentication/NBI C$33.75 per document Civil Registry-Reports of Birth, Marriage, or Death C$33.75

Lito Velasco of Alberta Filipino Journal, Deputy Consul Eric Aquino, and Marjorie Newman, an Immigration Consultant and a Duterte Volunteer during the Outreach.

Mission To advance the interests of the Philippines and the Filipino people in the world community.

Vision The department of foreign affairs is the prime agency of government responsible for the pursuit of the State’s foreign policy and the nerve center for a Foreign Service worthy of the trust and pride of every Filipino.

We are an organization of competent, dedicated and highly motivated personnel, who devote their energies to the benefit of the Filipino people.

We implement foreign policy with the highest standards of professionalism and commitment.

We pursue bilateral, regional and multilateral relations to advance the interest of the Philippines and the Filipinos.

We build partnerships with national security and development agencies, think-tanks and the academe, the private sector, the media and civil society in the interest of the nation and the people.

We endeavor to promote regional and global cooperation in order to achieve peace, prosperity and stability.

In the global arena, we work for social justice especially for the poor human rights and fundamental freedoms, and a democratic way of life.

We are committed to secure a world free from serious environmental degradation, transnational crime and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Our missions abroad are the partners of Filipinos overseas in the pursuit of the national interest and in the promotion and protection of their rights and well-being.

We have highly responsive system, which ensures effective delivery of services.

Our personnel are our greatest asset. We are committed to the personal, professional and career development of each employee.

In pursuit of our goals, we strive for and live by the principles of excellence, integrity and patriotism.

His Excellency Consul General Julius Torres and his staff are here to serve all Filipinos in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The following services are now being offered: 1. Notarials 2. Solemnization of Marriage 3. Report of Birth/Marriage/Death 4. Mortuary Certificate 5. NBI 6. Petition for Change of First Name Office Address: Suite 920, 517 10th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2R 0A8 (Centre 10 Building, corner of 4th and 5th Street) Tel numbers: (403) 455-9343; (403) 455-9346; (403) 455-9457; (403) 45594-83 After work phone: (587) 577-1524 Email: calgarypcg@yahoo.ca Office hours: 9am to 4pm

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204-489-8894

"Thank you so much Hon.Julius Torres,Consul General of PCG-Calgary and Staff for accommodating a total of 549 applicants for the 2 1/2 day Outreach Program in Edmonton. Mabuhay and God bless!" Benjie Lindo said.

Special thanks to Duterte Volunteers who helped and shared food and drinks during the event.

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November 2016

A maple-coated Filipino Heart

by Erlinda

Dolly Tan

erlindatan@yahoo.com

Tidbits from Vancouver Vancouver is very pretty at summer, that’s a given. Reason tourism is a big industry here, the place is like a big park with a city, not a city with a park. The mountains, the ocean and the thick vegetation combined, makes the place truly breathtaking.

But do you know Vancouver has interesting characters you probably have not heard before? ************* Last month, it rained 28 days in Vancouver. That’s right, it rained 28 of 31 days in October! Not even the Philippines, a tropical country, can beat that. But there wasn’t any flooding, simply because rain in Vancouver is equivalent to drizzle in the Philippines. But the sky is murky, normal day at Fall is always overcast.

Walking outside feels like there’s something on top of your head. I lived six years in Edmonton and so this is something unprecedented to

The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

me. After a month of this weather, I longed the sky would crack open, even just a little, so the sun could peep through.

Good thing it’s not cold. I go to work early morning carrying (not wearing) a light coat. Plus, I love wearing my rain boots, I didn’t have them in Edmonton. As I write this (second week of November), it’s still raining. The joke here is that, it only rained twice last week, once for three days and once for four days! But truth be told, it’s this rain that makes the city very green and beautiful at summer. We just cannot have everything in life eh. Sunny Alberta?

Yes but don’t forget the cold. ************* I take the train to work. Two trains bound for the same direction but different stations are in my route, they separate somewhere. At peak hours they come 90 seconds apart.

Meaning, if you’re in the route before they separate, your train every morning arrives every 90 seconds!

Isn’t that a wow? That’s how you solve traffic - transport people fast like a lightning by the hundreds.

But consider too that if one train breaks down, all the others halt. And if it happens at peak hours, plenty of trains and thousands of commuters are stuck on the track.

But overall, Vancouver has one of the best and reliable transportation systems I know of. The SkyTrain will bring you to neighboring cities Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey and Langley in minutes. And it goes to Vancouver International Airport.

Busses here run the road by electricity, not gasoline. They’re called trolleybus. They get power from an overhead electric circuit, two metal poles protruding on the

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roof of the bus connect to the circuit.

Vancouver is the only Canadian city operating a trolleybus. It’s definitely environment friendly and quieter as compared to a regular bus. ************* We have “mini markets” everywhere. To buy produce and meat, you don’t have to drive to Safeway, Superstore or Save On. You can buy them few blocks away from your place, the price is the same or even cheaper. These stores only sell market stuff. I love the concept of it – It’s like bringing the market right there in your neighborhood. They have everything as far as cooking a meal is concerned. ************* There are many Asians here.

Wikipedia says Vancouver is the only city in Canada where Visible Minority outnumbers Caucasians.

Visible Minority includes Chinese, Filipinos, Arabs, East Indians or any race that’s non-Caucasian. When you’re in a public place, you notice how true this statistics is. You can take a bus with passengers that are all non-Caucasian. ************* There are more homeless here.

I heard some come from Alberta and Saskatchewan, they moved here for the weather. They are most visible at the downtown area sleeping on the sidewalk wrapped in blanket. My heart bleeds every time I see them but I can only do so much. Many of them have mental illness but they’re not harmful. Just leave them alone, they will not bother you. I know all cities have a homeless issue nagging the city government. But more homeless in Vancouver than in Edmonton, I was stunned. *************

Vancouver is one of the Top Ten Greenest Cities in the world. I can attest to that. The electric bus is one factor. Garbage segregation is very strict. Some trees have tags or ID. They’re inventoried by the Vancouver Board of Parks. The tree has a name, location, serial number and date it was planted. I agree, it’s a living creature after all. You don’t just leave them there, growing on

5 their own, they need caring like other living creatures. ************* I definitely love Vancouver my new city. But Edmonton will always be home. It’s a similar feeling on a bigger scale when we say, Canada is the best country on planet earth but the Philippines will always be home.

No expounding needed, you know what I mean.

Pacquiao seeks new career high with victory over Vargas Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao wants to set another record in the history of boxing not only as the first senator to be inside the ring and but the first senator to become a world champion.

At 37, he is the only boxer to win world titles in eight different weight classes. On Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila), he will be facing the younger and taller Jessie Vargas, the reigning WBO (World Boxing Organization) welterweight champion, in their title showdown at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Pacquiao lost twice in 2012, against Timothy Bradley and Mexican pugilist Juan Manuel Marquez. He rose from the grave to win successive ones against Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri; leading up to his historic encounter with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2015. He lost on points then admitted he fought Mayweather despite a shoulder injury he aggravated in training just two to three weeks to the fight.

Pacquiao underwent surgery and 11

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months later he faced Bradley for the third time. He sent the American down twice en route to a unanimous decision. Then he announced his retirement from the sport. Now he’s back in the ring, after being elected senator last May and seven months after he announced his retirement.

This time Pacquiao does not have a guaranteed purse and his earnings will depend on how it sells.

Therefore he has to be impressive against Vargas by scoring no less than a knockout. Being impressive in the Vargas fight should help Pacquiao regain the pull in seeking the bigger fights and the bigger purse, and maybe luring Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of retirement, and face him in a rematch.

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November 2016

Are Duterte and Trump the new normal?

PEREZCOPE

by Perry

Diaz

PerryDiaz@gmail.com

T

he election of Rodrigo R. Duterte and Donald J. Trump -- six months apart – as president of the Philippines and United States, respectively, shook the world in a manner that differed from previous presidential elections in both countries. While Duterte was favored to win in large part due to his promise to kill drug pushers and users, Trump was doomed to lose simply because of his controversial stand against a lot of issues and causes that many people consider as “sacred cows.” But as it turned out, the “sacred cows” were as fair game as anything else, which -surprisingly – had attracted the support of many Americans. “I’ll build the wall and tell Mexico to pay for it,” Trump promised, and his supporters went a-gaga!

It’s the same thing with Duterte who told his supporters at a campaign rally: “I’ll kill 100,000 drug pushers and users and throw their bodies into the Manila Bay to fatten the fishes.”

And his supporters went bananas!

Yes, it’s indeed a world gone crazy! What the hell happened?

But the question should be: “What happened in hell?” And hell is what hoi polloi think of the environment they’re living in today, which reminds me of Dan Brown’s book, “Inferno.”

A character, Dr. Brooks, who was visiting Manila said, “I’ve run through the gates of hell,” to describe the crime, poverty, and sex trade that she saw.

And for all the hellish situations that the people have to coup with, they can only

blame their governments for not doing enough to make their lives worth living. And all the politicians running for office in both countries – two of the freest democracies on earth – know it. Duterte and Trump saw an opportunity to get ahead of the crowded pack of presidential wannabes by inflaming the emotions of the people. While some people laughed them off, a growing number of people began to wonder, “Why not?”

Duterte made “War on Drugs” the cornerstone of his campaign for the presidency. And true enough he delivered. During his first 100 days in office, more than 4,000 drug pushers and users ended up dead on the streets.

The police said that the police gunned down 1,200 of them when they resisted arrest. The rest were tagged as “death under investigation” (DUI), a newly coined term for someone killed under mysterious circumstances, mostly by vigilantes.

Mexican government would pay for the wall’s construction. The question is: Is Mexico willing to pay for the wall?

But regardless of whether Mexico would pay for the wall or not, the perceived “danger” of undesirable aliens crossing the border in record numbers has already been ingrained in the minds of his supporters. In other words, Trump stoked xenophobic fear of Mexican illegal immigrants, which he considers as a threat to national security.

“Build the wall” Meanwhile, as Trump savored his stunning victory over Hillary Clinton who won the popular vote -- which doesn’t count -- but lost the electoral vote to Trump, a lot of Americans wonder how Trump would craft his domestic programs and foreign policy, after all those nasty things that he said about certain groups of Americans and America’s allies as well.

If there is one scorching issue that has ignited emotional backlash from Trump’s supporters, it’s “illegal immigration.” With an estimated 11 million illegals residing in the U.S., Trump’s solution to this problem is two-fold. First, deport the illegals. And second, build a wall to prevent them from entering the U.S. by way of the porous U.S.-Mexico border.

Then he inflamed his supporters’ emotion when he accused the Mexican government of sending criminals, rapists, drug pushers, and other undesirable across the border. He promised that the

Geopolitics is addition If there is one major and critical area of concern among geopolitical experts, it’s foreign policy. Duterte made headlines during his state visit to China last October when he declared that he was pursuing an “independent foreign policy.” He also announced his “separation” from the U.S., which caused a geopolitical tremor of tectonic proportion, which left the Philippines’ allies -- particularly the U.S. – trembling. And to drive his point, he said that he would seek economic and military alliance with China and Russia.

Duterte’s flirting with China and Russia is nothing more than “puppy love.” But what truly caused a lot of headaches among America’s allies were Trump’s threats to withdraw American forces from Japan and South Korea unless they pay the cost of their deployment in their countries. He also made similar threats to America’s NATO allies and even suggested that NATO disbands, which made Russian

President Vladimir Putin happier than Dr. Strangelove fiddling with the Doomsday Machine.

But in the event that Duterte and Trump find solace to the notion that foreign policy is not zero-sum game but an intricate art of “geopolitics is addition,” they just might play down their rhetoric and do what is best for their people. Let me put it this way: Duterte will need America more than China and Russia combined, while Trump needs NATO as a counterforce to Russian expansion. He also needs America’s treaty allies Japan, South Korea, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan to contain China and North Korea.

But there is a silver lining to all the gloom and doom that Trump has been trumpeting around; he wants to make the U.S. stronger to maintain the balance of power in a world in turmoil. During the final days of this year’s presidential elections, Trump laid out an ambitious plan to build 350 new warships for the U.S. Navy to match the growing navies of China and Russia.

Ideological shift But the most significant aspect of Duterte and Trump’s elections is that both of them will have the opportunity to change the ideological make-up of their respective country’s Supreme Court. In the case of Duterte, he’d be appointing 11 new Supreme Court Justices to replace justices who will be retiring when they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70. With only four justices left from the current bench,

Duterte – who is an avowed leftist – would presumably appoint justices in his own image.

In the case of the U.S. Supreme Court where there is no mandatory retirement age, Trump will surely nominate a hard-core conservative to take the seat of the late ultra-conservative Justice Antonin Scalia; thus, maintaining the conservative majority on the High Court. However, Justice Anthony Kennedy, although considered a conservative, had oftentimes held the swing vote in big cases; thus, giving the liberals a tactical edge over the conservatives. Another swing vote is Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion in favor of Obamacare to the chagrin of his fellow conservatives.

However, the shaky equilibrium on the High Court might tilt to the conservative side if one or two of the four liberals’ seats were vacated. Among the conservatives, Justice Kennedy at 80 is the oldest. If his seat is vacated, Trump would nominate an ideological conservative to take his seat; thus, solidly strengthening the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court.

With Duterte exiting in six years and Trump in four or eight years, both would leave a lasting legacy that would determine the future of their respective countries. Duterte would leave a left-leaning Supreme Court while Trump would leave the most conservative Supreme Court for the last 50 years, if not the last century.

At the end of the day, what we’re seeing is that unorthodoxy has become an acceptable behavior among our political leaders. Duterte and Trump’s campaign styles have led people to call Duterte the Trump of the Philippines and Trump as the Duterte of the U.S. Their opponents have called them “loose cannons.”

But loose cannons or not, they’re now the leaders of their countries, which begs the question: Are Duterte and Trump the new normal?

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Lito Mendoza Velasco

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Contributing Writers: Marjorie Carmona-Newman Marco Luciano Rosalyn Estoque Gem & Lita Anis Perry Diaz Erlinda Dolly Tan Rosalyn Estoque Ida Beltran-Lucila Tony Santiago

Founder, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief- Filipino Journal (1987-2008)

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Pre-Mature Awareness Month Peer Support and Family Mentorship Programs NICU Family Mentoring is a comprehensive approach that matches trained volunteer NICU graduate parents with families currently in the NICU or Stollery Children’s Hospital. Mentors work with families to help them address day to day struggles that are facing while in the NICU and speak to them about their experiences. The family mentors can offer hope and

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

experience to the families as they stay in the NICU. History or Peer Support Programs in Edmonton, AB and the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Prior to June 2016 the only support program that existed for parents within the NICUs were two groups one at the David Schiff NICU, and one at the Royal Alexandra Hospital NICU. Both of

these groups had to be facilitated by a Social Worker and a graduate parent.

In the 2012 The Patient and Family-Centered Care, with the PICU Transfer Rounds Study, trialed a Peer Support program where families were offered the opportunity to meet with other families for peer support before being discharged from the PICU

which proved to be quite successful and led to the creation of the Family Bedside Orientation Program (FBO) on 5G4. The FBO is a one to one beside visiting program where trained Family Mentors visit with families to provide peer support and do some orientation to the hospital making the experiences more personable for the families. The Evaluation of the FBO program was done on an ongoing basis as well as at the end of a year of the program.

The data collected indicated that close to 90% of families visited

felt that the visit was important or extremely important during their stay in hospital.

The program was then expanded to the RAH NICU as it was a natural for such a beneficial program especially considering the extend length of stay in the NICUs. Currently the RAH NICU has 3 family mentors doing bedside visits at the NICU, though it is in the process of expanding with newly trained mentors. Both the staff and the families are very appreciative of these programs

Sarah Topiko and Family -Older son Connor born at 27 weeks spent 65 days in the NICU

Kaela Hendra and Family -Lauchin Hendra born at 25 weeks 6 days and spent 95 days in the NICU. He is now 5 years old.

What does being a Family Mentor mean to you? Being a Family Mentor is an opportunity for me truly brings value to our NICU experience. I feel blessed to be able to hear stories from families currently surviving the NICU and support them through empathizing with them and offering hope for what can be at the end of that long, dark tunnel.

Why did you get any involved in the Family Mentoring/Peer support programs? I first became a Family Mentor because of how important he Parent Meetings in the Bears Den were to me during our 95 days. There was one meeting during those 95 days that a graduate parent came to speak and I can still remember the hope I felt after that meeting.

Anything else you want to add about the importance of the program to your family and you personally? I would like to thank the NICU families I have met for allowing me the opportunity to share in their journey. I truly feel blessed.

Kristy Wolfe and Family -Older son Kane was born at 32 weeks 5 days spent days in NICU. What does being a Family Mentor mean to you?

A family mentor is someone who can come in and listen. They can relate in some way to the experience you are having and hopefully help you celebrate the positive moments.

Why did you get any involved in the Family Mentoring/Peer support programs? I wanted to give back to the larger hospital community. This ended up happening by joining NICU FACT, but peer mentoring has always been my passion/ Did you have a family mentor available to you when you were on your NICU Journey? There was a not a peer mentor program in place, but I did late advantage of the Social Workers lunch time support group. Anything else you want to add about the importance of the program to your family and you personally? Families in the NICU (and other sites) are so appreciative! We may spend all of our time orienting a family to the unit or it may be a family who has been around for a while and just needs someone new to talk with.

I have found staffs are also very receptive to the mentors being there.

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What does being a Family Mentor mean to you?

Being a family mentors allows me to give back to other families and support them during some of the most difficult times in their lives. It allows me to help families express themselves in a safe space with someone who has been in their shoes, in some capacity, Being a family mentor means so much to me and has given our experience a great sense of purpose.

Why did you get any involved in the Family Mentoring Peer support programs? I got involved with the Family Mentor program when it was launched because I had been doing informal family mentoring with other families since our son was born, over 6 years ago. Although there are large numbers of hospitalized children this world can seem very small when you are living it, day by day. I had friends calling all the time asking if I could talk to their friend who’s baby was born prematurely like ours, and could I help her though it. When the program launched, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of.

Why did you get any involved in the Family Mentoring/Peer support programs? There were no family mentors available during our time in the NICU. Other parents and I developed lasting bonds who had already finished their journey and could tell me what life looks like post hospital.

Anything else you want to add about the importance of the program to your family and you personally? The number one compliment I can get when doing family mentoring is ‘wow, this feels so good to talk to someone who’s been there. You just get what it’s like!’ For me, that’s what it’s all about, and why I’m so passionate about the Family Mentor program.

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

2016 Marks Koro Filipino’s 25th Anniversary

A

s a fundamental core of the group’s identity for the past 25 years, The Philippine Choral is now Koro Filipino. The new name is symbolic of a new era as the group celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The choir hopes that this will also mark the next phase of their development as they take their music in other directions. “[The name change] marks a new beginning for the group and leads us to many more years to come,” says Chito Atienza, the choir’s president.

“Our commitment to our passion of singing and sharing our unique brand of performance and appeal will remain, as always – the best,” Atienza explains.

The 23-strong group will continue to illustrate Filipino culture through their diverse repertoire and jovial showmanship.

Well-known in the performing arts community as one of Edmonton's leading Filipino show choirs, Koro Filipino actually started as a small church choir in 1991. Through their unique harmonies, they inspired many churchgoers with their uplifting spiritual hymns and mass songs. Their love for music and community service eventually widened their repertoire to include classic and contemporary Tagalog songs as well as English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and even South African pieces. As a tribute to celebrating this milestone, the choir is returning to its origin – a church choir. On Sunday, November 27, Koro Filipino is having a fundraising concert, FAITH, HOPE & LOVE, directed and choreographed by renowned Filipino artist, Jojo Lucila, for the benefit of the newest Catholic parish in southeast Edmonton, The Roman Catholic Church of Corpus Christi.

DATE: Sunday, November 27, 2016 TIME: 6 p.m. VENUE: Corpus Christi Church (2707 – 34 Street NW) TICKETS: $15.00 For tickets, please contact: Chito Atienza at chitoatienza@hotmail.com Or Corpus Christi phone: 780.466.7576

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November 2016

Canada will open the doors for 300,000 new permanent residents in 2017 The Republic of Adobo

To sustain economic growth and support its strained health care and pension systems...

target number for 2017 gives the economic immigrants intake of 57.7%; and the family reunification, 28%; and because of the Syrian refugee conflict, the government decided 13.3% for refugees; and humanitarian decisions get 1.2%.

by Rod Cantiveros Accepting more skilled immigrants through rod@filipinojournal.com express entry and the provincial nominee programs, the government takes priority to zero in the economic reat news for those who immigrant category to generate more economic growth are planning to come to and to enhance a stronger bond in the social fabric Canada as permanent of he various communities, as Kevin Lamoureux, residents, hoping that by the end MP, Winnipeg North Centre, and the Parliamentary of next year, Canada's population Secretary to the government house leader as he will increase by another 300,000 postulated: "Immigrants not only fill jobs that would new permanent residents, far otherwise remains vacant and help to develop provincial from the recommendation by the economies, but they also contribute to the character Advisory Council on Economic and the social fabric of Growth which stated that the communities." And he annual immigration should added focusing on the be increased over a fivesuccess of the Manitoba year period by 50 per cent, to Provincial Nominee 450,000 from 300,000.

Program that if it weren't "That number is a for immigration thru the conceivable number for same PNP, the population of date in the future, but certainly Manitoba would have not for 2017," said Immigration, declined in the last decade.

Refugees & Citizenship But from some Minister John McCallum quarters, increased during the announcement immigration would be a of making the 2016 level of burden for the Canadian immigration would be at the government in terms of same level for 2017.

Immigration, Refugees & And the breakdown of the Citizenship Minister John McCallum medical care, housing and

G

Gov’t to assist Pinoy TNTs in US Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government is ready to provide assistance to Filipino illegal immigrants or the so-called “tago nang tago” (TNT) in the United States (US).

Bello said the labor agency have already established a mechanism for the business and employment opportunities involving undocumented Filipinos in the US, who face deportation in the wake of President-

elect Donald Trump’s planned crackdown on illegal immigrants. The Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) said there are currently 3.5 million Filipinos in the US. Most are permanent migrants; around 130,000 are OFWs; while the remaining 271,000 are either not properly documented, without valid residences, or who may be overstaying.

security. And other MPs raised their voices that jobs in Canada are getting scarce specially in Alberta, as Alberta MP Tom Kmiec, PC, said;" Albertans get first crack at the job.".

Other voices cited that there will be problems in the coming years if immigration becomes stagnant, leading to more problems because of the aging population and low birth rate, and that the increase of immigration will sustain economic growth and support its strained health care and pension systems.

One official voiced his concern: "Who will pay for our pension plans?" More tax collections and pension plan supports are tied up with the 57.7% target of economic immigrants. The skilled workers are tax payers and the current pension payments support the current pension payment.

Other voices are very disconcerting as you view some comments of Canadians

LIGHT OF LIFE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (LLCM) 2101 Millbourne Road West, NW Edmonton T6K 0Y3 Pastor Ed Sonza (780) 695-1946

Worship service: Sundays starts at 4:30 pm Prayer meetings: Wednesdays (7:30 pm)

Sundays (7:00 am) CELL GROUPS/BIBLE STUDY: LLCM YOUTH OF WORTH JEREMIAH 29:11 GROUP PROVERBS 3:5-6 GROUP TGIF (THINK GOD IS FIRST) CAPILANO GROUP MARK 11:24 GROUP

Duterte allays fears of Martial Law declaration President Rodrigo Duterte allayed fears that his recent statement on the possible suspension of the writ of habeas corpus could be a prelude to martial rule.

The president said last week that he might suspend the writ of habeas corpus if lawlessness spread in Mindanao, adding that the move could intensify the crackdown on drugs and rebellion. The 1987 Constitution authorizes the president to suspend the writ for not more than 60 days in case of an invasion,

rebellion or when the public safety requires it. Government officials downplayed the pronouncement by saying that the president was just articulating an idea. For their part, some lawmakers have raised concerns over the president's statement, noting that it could lead to martial rule similar to what the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos did. Meanwhile, critics of Duterte's war on drugs are worried that the campaign could lead to more human rights abuses and extralegal killings.

DND says joint PH-U.S. military trainings to continue Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a statement said President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed joint military trainings between the Philippines and the United States to continue.

Lorenzana said Duterte has approved DND’s recommendations that include the refocusing of bilateral activities on command post exercises, tabletop exercises, staff exercises and simulation exercises and

trainings; maintaining bilateral humanitarian and disaster response and counter-terrorism exercises; and focusing on non-traditional security concerns such as counter-narcotics and transnational crimes. Lorenzana also confirmed that the President has given the go-signal for the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the U.S.

Let's get social

who are against the increase on the intake of new immigrants. One might sum up those comments as a sheer frustration for someone who could not find a job; or someone who has a mindset that Canada is only for the white people; and that multiculturalism has changed the image of a country; and that our security is being compromised.

With so much land we have to explore, and with so much skilled jobs are waiting to be filled; and with the aging population and the negative effect of a low birth rate; and with the sustainability of economic growth in the coming decades, immigration has a major role to fire the engine of economic growth, and making the mosaic of immigrants more colorful and exciting.

I love Canada! And we welcome the 300,000 new permanent residents with an open arms, hearts and minds.

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

Fight the Fear: Travel Alone in the 21st Century

S Little Me and the Big World

by Rosalyn

Estoque

rosalynesto@gmail.com

of the time, something we only created in our minds. In other words, fears are feelings and ideas that have the ability of deterring us away from a good or bad experience.

In regards to travelling, there will always be worries or hesitations, whether or not we came up with them ourselves, and whether they are ideas that society, our friends, family, or loved ones have told us.

I always get asked the generic, “But, aren’t you afraid to be alone all day or sit alone somewhere, like a café?” I’m sure we can all agree that at first, it may seem like an uncomfortable situation, but honestly it’s not. Drinking

ome of my greatest memories and life lessons are from when I travelled alone. This statement – travelling alone – may make many feel uncomfortable, afraid, or uneasy.

But let me kindly say, that all those fears and myths surrounding the culture of travelling alone – specifically as a female – are, lack of a better word, nothing but excuses. As humans, we all experience and react to certain situations differently. These precautions and warnings are great to keep in mind, but at the end of the day it’s one of those things you truly won’t understand until you try.

Fear is a funny thing, because it’s intangible and is for the majority

All photos & articles available online!

continued to page 11 ►

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

11

Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association in Alberta: Fellowship and Volunteerism APO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA members had a bountiful fellowship held at the Panciteria de Manila, Edmonton with the presence of Jun Cristobal, their visiting brother from Washington, DC. Followed by the APOAA Camping 2016 at Aspen Beach Lakeview Group Campground, Alberta.

These activities have only proven that the Alpha Phi Omega is not only found here, but everywhere.

Food preparation for the homeless at Mustard Seed Calgary held last October 29, 2016.

The Fellowship

Volunteerism

from page 10

Fight the Fear: coffee alone in a café in a foreign country is probably the least of my worries when I’m more concerned about where I’m going to stay that night, if I have enough room in my backpack, what time is the next train, and how much will it all cost? So, sitting peacefully alone in a café with a nice cup of coffee will always sound nice to me.

I have travelled solo the last three summers and these were some of the most memorable, challenging and life changing moments of my life thus far. In

2014, I travelled through Spain for three months, in 2015 I spent two months in Morocco, followed by another three months dispersed throughout, London, Barcelona, France, Israel, Jordan and the United States. And most recently, this past summer in 2016, I spent a month driving through Iceland and Norway. And yes, I journeyed to these places on my own.

It is natural to fear what will happen when the worst will occur. What if you lose your luggage or miss a train and have to hitchhike for the first time?

Or what will happen when you get lost in a dangerous part of town where no one understands a word you say? Or how do you know you will know what

Winning Piece that is brought to heaven

to do when you find yourself in the most unwanted of circumstances, like a car accident on the highway or being sick to your stomach from food poisoning.

It’s terrifying and painful to endure these moments alone in a foreign land, but if someone like me can survive all of this, then I truly believe that anyone can.

All of those challenges make travelling worth it all. Because when you choose to travel, you open yourself up to a world other than your own; to a world full of culture and traditions you’ve never experienced before. You’re exposed to languages and lifestyles that are so foreign and different, yet in a weird way they are

breathtakingly beautiful. You’ll meet people from across the globe and share stories, laughter and unique moments that will only ever exist in that fraction of time. You’ll get lost, but will grow and develop into a magnificent version of you, you never knew could ever exist.

There is such strength and courage when it comes to travelling alone. The only person you rely on, on a day to day basis, is no other than yourself. It teaches you to trust your instincts and your innate abilities to survive. You’ll find yourself showing up for yourself in ways you didn’t know were possible.

We’re all born natural explorers and lovers of life. We need to get out of

heads, stop thinking too much, and enjoy the beautiful world that was given to us.

So let me end this by saying; take chances but be smart about it.

Get lost and explore and learn new traditions, but don’t be vulnerable to your surroundings. Learn to follow your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it, but don’t be afraid to trust those around you. There is so much this world has to offer, whether it be grandiose, beautiful or ugly. But, in order to fully experience the world we live in, we must venture outside our comfort zone, even if that means doing things on our own and exploring at the beat of our own drum.

Jeremiah Steven Calderon Votary Grade 6 Edmonton, Alberta

You pass me everyday on eighty-second-street, Though you never take the time, to let our eyes meet.

You never dig in your pocket, for some spare change, Nor give me any money to take away the pain.

I know that you think that I’m not worth it, But if you were me, and I were you, Would you want money from my wallet?

When it rains you have comfort in your house, While the best friend I have is a small street mouse.

You have a family that’s so loving and caring, While my only pair of clothes are ripping and tearing.

I have no friends out here and I don’t feel so good, When people walk away from me like I’m rude.

I have no belongings, no friend and no job, In the alleys I’m in the dumpster hiding from a street mob.

This runner up-winning piece-essay was written by this family- loving and community service oriented lad last 2008. That, at his very young age, he was able to see the beauty and importance of a home.

Yet, his concept of a home will just remain a living legacy to those who were able to read and treasure his prose. Alas, the real essence of home can no longer be actually experienced and enjoyed

by Jeremiah, the 19 year old teenager, as he joined the Creator last October 21, 2016.

Message from his mom, Mrs. Carmelita Votary: "Pare ko, sa Univerity of Alberta s'ya nag-aral, kaya lang nag dropped siya middle of September. Nasa Faculty of Science siya kase he wanted to become an Anesthesiologist... Ang memorable moments ko before he passed away was... when he told me, "Mom I wanna go with you in the church, I wanna respect the Lord! Sweet, mabait, with a good heart not only to families but also to his friends... generous and always had a radiant smile... looking forward to his success in life."

Jeremiah, you will always be remembered. Your winning piece will remain the cornerstone of our home. We love you anak!

This little old man may look dirty and wary, But deep down inside he is loving and caring.

A home to me is a place to live, to love, to learn, And though we go through the tough times we earn, Our home is where we belong.

A home is where your family is, a place to have fun, While all he does is run, run, run.

He needs a home, that’s all he wants from us, But the best he has is by the bus.

So please try and look from his point of view.

I did my share, now you do yours too.

Let's get social

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

Filipino Voice for the Airwaves

Artospective an artist’s point of view

by Ida

Beltran-Lucila

ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

T

he Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released a call for applications for

an ethnic radio station in Edmonton.

Edmonton’s population growth over the past two years has outpaced that of Alberta as a whole, and was over three times that of the current estimates of growth for Canada.

The largest groups of immigrants come from the Philippines and India. Alberta Employment and Immigration found there were over 130 languages identified by new immigrants destined to the province as their mother tongue with English, Tagalog, Punjabi, Mandarin, and Spanish consistently in the top five languages. With currently only one radio station for the ethnic communities, 101.7 World FM, the need for at least another ethnic radio station was evident.

I was approached to be a part of the panel for the application for a

license by Akash Broadcasting, based in BC. This was my first foray into the world of radio broadcast, not counting the few projects I did as part of my Theatre Arts Bachelor’s degree at the University of the Philippines.

Needless to say, the whole experience was fascinating to me. The amount of work and resources required for an application alone, is staggering.

There’s the engineering survey, the market research, financial feasibility, audience demographics, programming options, to name a few, that needs thorough research. And then comes the most crucial phase of the application, which I was involved in, the hearings with the Commission.

My commitment involved four intense days of preparation and the actual hearing day, with a very dynamic and committed

All photos & articles available online!

The panel from Akash Broadcasting for the CRTC application for a radio ethnic station.

group representing different sectors of the community: Tejinderpaul Singh - well-known broadcaster with Shaw Multicultural Channel, performing artist, teacher, and volunteer; Herkiranjeet Kaur Mann - entrepreneur; Marco Luciano -

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advocate of migrant rights; Nav Kaur - educator and equity advocate; Simrat Cheema - radio and television broadcaster; Satnam Rai - financial advisor; Kanak Chamarty and Julie Zhang - journalists; Jagdeep Sandhu - telecom engineer, talk show host and DJ; Stephen Zolf - legal counsel; Andrew Forsyth broadcast consultant; Kerry Pelser consulting engineer; and Rita Cugini - adviser. The five-day stint we shared was marked with enriching, diverse dialogue, validated and challenged perspectives, and initiated relationships. We shared our vision and desires for an ethnic radio station, immigrant stories, employment issues, child rearing practices, educational philosophies, ways of life, entertainment preferences, and humour. In all these interaction, I kept in mind that I was there primarily as a Filipino and an artist.

There were a total of 11 applications for this call. The hearing for all applicants went for four whole days, sometimes stretching to the evening. The whole process allowed for inquiries and rebuttals from Commissioners, other applicants, supporters and opposers of an applicant.

The applications had commonalities in their objective - to complement, and not compete, with the existing ethnic radio station, in offering extended programming for underserved communities mainly in the languages of Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. For programming dedicated to the Filipino community, 101.7 World FM currently allots 3-4 hours one day a week.

It does not need to be emphasized that another ethnic radio station in Edmonton will only benefit the Filipino community.

As an artist, I see this as a bonus opportunity to develop and promote works of Filipino artists, and open up avenues of collaboration with other cultural groups. As a Filipino, this is a way to build a community with other Filipinos in this country and to reflect on our culture in a global framework. As a Canadian, this is a platform that stresses the importance of, and regard towards diversity, and honouring each other’s cultural perspective. So regardless of which applicant is granted the license, regardless of whether we have supported an applicant or not, the Filipino community should rally to support and patronize whoever is granted a license to operate this ethnic radio station. Because as succinctly articulated by Thomas Berry, “Diversity is the magic. It is the first manifestation, the first beginning of the differentiation of a thing and of simple identity. The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.” Let our voices be heard.

To comment on this article, go to http://thelucilaproject.blogspot.ca.

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

13

Our Kababayan's Success Stories:

Kaya ko; Makakaya mo!

By Marjorie Carmona-Newman

In the City of Edmonton, the thriving capital of Canada's Alberta province, some of our kababayans deserve to be recognized for their exemplary contributions in the community.

ROBERTO MAGLALANG He spent 30 years of his career in the corporate world. Then in 2005, he took a big leap from being a corporate employee to a business entreprenuer.

In an inteview with Roberto Maglalang, Maglalang recalled that "when I came to Canada I was given a scholarship at micro business training center on how to put up a business and at that time there was a big clamour for putting up a business. So I said I'm done working for big companies, now its about time to work for my own family."

In Canada, Maglalang worked previously as a Human Resource manager for Home Depot and the elite River Cree Resort and Casino.

Now Maglalang is the president of Little Asia Distributors, Ltd., and is currently the Sales Director for Hubstech BPO Corp.

JAYTEE BALMORES He was a registered nurse when he moved to Canada in 2008. Today he owns a food truck that triggered his passion and showcased Filipino cuisine as a regular guest in global TV, city TV, and dinner television.

His advice in making your passion into a business: Interview Jaytee Balmores, he said: "Face your problem one step at a time and try to find a solution don't run away from it; take a deep breath look at it solve it; again, don't run away from it... research it."

VIRGINIA SUMALINOG She entered Canada ten years ago, bringing with her a teaching degree and advanced degrees in education. This led her to land a teaching position at Edmonton Catholic School. Marrying her passion of caring for children with her entrepreneurial spirit, she opened a daycare business in Edmonton.

In an interview with Virginia Sumalinog, she said: "surviving in a foreign country you have to have the guts,

Let's get social

These Filipino Champions of Canada hope to be inspiring others... and show that the struggles of starting over in a foreign country should not be seen as a career end, but an opportunity to reinvent themselves and pursue their passion.

you have to have the perseverance and patience, and you must be courageous enough to face the odds. My advise is to trust the Lord 100%, and be determined."

Her tenacity led her recognition as one of the top 10 women entrepreneurs in Alberta. Sumalinog currently has 130 children under her care, and also the current president of the Visayas-Mindanao Association in Edmonton. (photos of Sumalinog at day care)

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

Man is Brother unto Man:

The Triskelion Alumni Organization of Canada became part of GIVE LIFE Team - Canada Blood Drive.

November 2016

Live and Let Live TAU GAMMA PHI and SIGMA members have shared Life at Canadian Blood Services in Edmonton last October 8, 2016.

This is to answer the needs for more blood donors in the province.

Also, this is one of the Triskelions' commitment to humanity--Man is brother into man.

Everyone is encouraged to do the same. Please contact the Canadian Blood Services at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Local youth group prepares for a National Youth Conference

Marco Luciano is the Global Council Representative of Philippine based Migrante International. He is also the current Secretary General of its chapter Migrante Canada.

EDMONTON, Alberta – A successful bowl-a-thon fundraising was held on October 29. Migrante Youth held the last fundraising effort to participate in a youth conference in Toronto. The group raised over $700 in additional funds.

Around 30 supporters participated in the bowl-a-thon on that nice Saturday afternoon. “We have been preparing for this trip in the last eight months” Mich Reanzares, the event organizer and one of the delegates said. “We’ve had bottle drives, set up the GoFundMe online crowdfunding and solicited from individuals including our families. Its hard work but it’s worth it” she added.

Migrante Youth is a committee of Migrante Alberta that serves to organize and strengthen the community in Edmonton and other major cities in Alberta.

Sulong Kabataan The national youth conference titled “Sulong Kabataan” is a year in the making. It will attempt to gather youth and youth organizations from Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. The conference will tackle the issues Filipino youth are facing today both here in Canada and in the Philippines. The issue of poverty and unemployment, hunger and landlessness, and graft and corruption that continue to push parents and young Filipino workers to leave the Philippines, their families and loved ones behind.

The conference will seek to unite Filipino youth across Canada through the formation of a national Filipino youth organization, Anakbayan.

With over 700,000 Filipinos in Canada, Philippines has become one of the most important sources of immigration to the country. A large portion of the Filipino population, especially those coming into Canada, is youth (ages 15 to 35). Filipinos are part of a young and growing community in Alberta. More second generation Filipinos are also asserting the issues that affect them such as their identity as Filipino-Canadian.

In their GoFundMe Online crowd funding site, the objectives of the conference are: To gather young people (workers, women, students etc.) to learn more about

the Philippine history, culture and identity; To engage participants in themed discussions, how they affect local realities and have them mobilize to an action; To provide a venue for young people to think of creative and effective ways to enhance the process of movement building; To empower the youth with the skills to be efficient organizers in their local neighborhoods or any other local contexts; To widen the projection of ANAKBAYAN and its work in the sector and the community it serves.

The conference will have thematic workshops.

Several workshops will focus on sectorial issues. The thematic workshops will provide helpful information and tools that will allow for “Sulong Kabataan” participants to be more effective organizers in their to come. There will be visitors from communities. There will also be the Philippines, Europe and the USA. Mr. Einstein Recedes, the Secretary cultural performances.

General of Anakbayan Philippines will be flying from Manila to be the Formation of Anakbayan Canada One of the highlights is the keynote speaker of the conference. formation of the national youth Marikit Saturay of Anakbayan Europe organization Anakbayan Canada. will also be one of the speakers. The It will be a chapter of Philippine conference will feature a solidarity based Anakbayan. In their website, evening with performers from the organization describes itself as a local artists and featuring Bambu, a comprehensive national democratic Filipino hip-hop artist from Oakland, mass organization of Filipino youth California. and students. Over 100 participants from Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Educational Opportunity Mich Reanzares, RJ Mananzala, Montreal and Toronto are expected

All photos & articles available online!

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Lyla Luciano, Michael Suico and Ysabelle Mananzala are the delegates that will be going from Edmonton.

Three of them have just graduated from high school, while the two are in grades eleven and 10. “We are really excited to go,” said Lyla Luciano.

“Its an educational opportunity for all of us. It allows us to learn what’s going on in our society,” she added.

“We will be talking about issues that are affecting the youth and what’s our role in the community,” said Michael Suico. The group is committed to share their experiences when they come back to Edmonton.

November 2016

Lesson-Driven Perspective Lito Mendoza Velasco litovelasco65@yahoo.ca

H

alloween expense has ballooned to frightening levels It’s a scary time of year for many Canadians. Ghouls and goblins will be roaming the streets looking for their next big candy fix on Halloween night. But the real scare is that Halloween has ballooned into money-making holiday.

The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

"In 2014, Canadians as a whole spent $397.7 million dollars on Halloween candy alone. If you think about it, that’s a lot of money to feed all of the trick or treaters in one night! To give a better idea of how many children head out for candy; in 2015 Statistics Canada says there were approximately 3,816,018 children between the ages of five to 14 knocking on doors for Halloween candy." Natasha Carr said.

As fun as it may be to hand out candy to children of all ages and even dress up as your own favourite superhero or reality TV star, Halloween is becoming an expensive holiday for many families across Canada. Those cute and scary costumes cost money, as well as the accessories.

Throw in buying candy for the kids in the neighbourhood and you are looking at a lot of money shelled in one night. How much?

A survey by RetailMeNot says on average last year Canadians spent the following for Halloween: · $52 for costumes · $43 for decorations · $42 for candy “Halloween can be an expensive time of year for many Canadians especially if you are trying to play catch up with your summer time credit card bills. Not only that, if you are still trying to figure out your budget for the holidays, you may be ill-prepared for Halloween,” says Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director, Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada.

“Nevertheless Halloween is

15

the kind of holiday where many Canadians will stray from their budget to wear the best costume, buy the best candy and have the spookiest home decorations.

Although it is a fun holiday it can put you in debt if you are not careful,” says Schwartz.

With more than half of Canadians getting ready to be spooktacular this Halloween, ConsolidatedCredit.ca offers the following tips to help consumers have a frugally ghoulish time:

shop to find like new costumes and/or accessories. You will have fun rummaging through the Halloween clothing racks.

3. Spend your dollars. Your local dollar store is filled with Halloween makeup, costumes and/or accessories. You can score really big and save a lot of money too. The key to having a successful Halloween dollar store shopping trip is to go early.

4. Walk down memory lane. Sift through last year’s Halloween decorations and reuse them, or 1. Bring your accessories back better yet, do a costume swap from the dead. Little accessories with your neighbors. can add up quite fast. Save your money and reuse your accessories Financial freedom can only from an old costume or better yet, be achieved and enjoyed if you revive an old costume. manage your money. Use your 2. What is old is new again. money rather than being used by Check out your local consignment it.

No health coverage for Editorial Canadian children of One's Excellence is undocumented workers: other's pestilence.

Where is Justice For as long as pride, envy, and much confident rather than competent. jealousy reign in our society, achieving Having been burdened and stuck and Humanitarian excellence will remain a dream. rather than having sufficient stocks.

Excellence can only be obtained These are all proven real.

Consideration? depending upon the relationship Stiff neck syndrome. Some Contributed by Marjorie Carmona-Newman Marjorie Newman is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant who decided to pursue this career from her experience at a law firm where she gained exposure to complex immigration situations. She is evidently a service-oriented professional and willing to share vital inputs to whoever needs her expertise.

Lyn (not her real name) entered canada in november 2010 to work as a restaurant and bakery manager in ontario. Immigration refugee and citizenship canada issued her a 6 month work permit. She was laid off after three months due to labour disputes and moved to alberta to work as a food service supervisor in november 2011.

In an interview with lyn she recounted how she lost her status in canada.

"Nawalan ako ng status noong january 2015 during that time buntis ako nanganak ako september 2015 wala akong trabaho hindi ako maka work.

Sa tulong ng community at ng migrante naka survive ako hanggang ngayon...

Noong nanganak ako wala na akong status. Nanganak ako sa misericordia, inadmit naman ako pero sinabihan ako na hindi na valid yong health care card ko.

Nanganak ako on september 12 pinalabas nila ako ng september 13 para hindi raw lalaki ang bill ko. Nakalabas naman ako pero pinadalhan nila ako ng bill na $5,100 na kailangan ko daw bayaran."

Lyn gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named ross mckennan tan. Doctor advised her to bring

the baby for a check up a week after she was discharged from the hospital. She was surprised because the clinic charged her for the check up.

Lyn was shocked upon learning that her child can not avail of the health services in canada.

"Nagulat talaga ako dahil dala ko noon ang birth certificate ni baby. Pero sabi nila kahit canadian siya magbayad pa rin ako kasi nakatali siya sa akin. Sa pagkaka alam k0 once canadian born hindi ako magbabayad.

Dito nasubukan ko na kahit saang clinic ko siya dadalhin magbabayad talaga ako."

Canada health act mandates the provincial government to administer health care and guarantees that eligible residents of alberta and canadian citizens, including those born in canada, are able to receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services.

Http://www.Health.Alberta.Ca/ health-services.Html Aws-lois.Justice.Gc.Ca/eng/ acts/c-6/page 2.Html#doccont Lyn sought the help of migrante alberta to clarify from alberta health services regarding the access of medical services for canadian born children to non status mothers.

In an interview with marco luciano of migrante alberta "Well nong sumulat kami para humingi ng tulong at inquiry para doon sa children of

Let's get social

undocumented workers and sagot sa amin ng ministers office their status are tied to their mothers therefore they are not eligible for any health care services in the province. It is really shocking to find out . I think it is only alberta or one of the couple of provinces does not acknowledged birth right. ..The province is violating the rights of the child, violating the canadian charter of rights, violating citizenship act, and also canada is a signatory of united nations human rights."

Lyn felt betrayed and said that..

"Napakasakit para sa magulang kasi bata pa si baby hindi niya maramdaman ramdam ko ang discrimination hindi nya makuha yong para sa kanya dapat niya ma enjoy. Yong ibang bata maski ubo dinadala kaagad sa doktor at walang bayad. Pero yong anak ko i google ko pa paano ko ma control na hindi siya lagnatin."

Migrante alberta pointed out that the four year limit on temporary foreign workers have driven many to the underground economy choosing to stay because they had no means to survive in their home countries. Many of these undocumented workers have conceived children who are subsequently born in canada and thus are canadian citizens by birthright. These children, such as lyn's daughter,are canadian citizens denied by the government their right to access health care.

we have towards our fellow human beings, particularly with our fellow Filipinos. Harmony and collaboration are the key factors. Those two must guide us all to the achievement of excellence.

He who truly excels contributes to the real essence of genuine success.

However, there are some inevitable problems the Filipinos have ever since; those are: The love to cheer for other's triumphs rather than hit the target in order to become successful and triumphant player. The love to initiate rather than actuate. The love to quantitatively cooperate rather than qualitatively compete. They are too

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Filipinos are stricken by this illness as they can scarcely able to turn their necks in order to take a glance where they come from.

For instance, there are some people in any field of endeavours like politicians and business owners have the tendency to easily forget who brought them up to the height of their careers or occupations who just opted to become oblivious about those significant others who made them rich and famous. That, instead of continuously collaborating and patronizing each other's crafts and expertise; one chose to destabilize the other. Do you?

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

Horoscope Encourages you to be curious and ask questions of successful people. It can all work in your favor. Continue through your zone of shared resources, so you may be seeking ways to increase your income or improve business profits.

Be willing to let your light shine - this is no time to hide your talents. You have plenty of opportunities to tap in to your imagination the sky's the limit. If you can visualize it, there's every chance you can make it happen. And doing so regularly will make it even more likely.

Be sure it's right for you, though, as new information could override your original decision. You may be tempted to part with your money if someone offers you an opportunity enjoy a pleasure trip or other experience.

Don't ignore any feelings you have about a relationship that may be going through a tricky patch. Unwind and enjoy a bit more relaxation. With your social life sparkling away, don't be surprised if you get more invitations and opportunities for hanging out in good company.

The tensions that may have disturbed you should have lessened by now. With a positive focus on your sector of relating, this can be an excellent time to clear the air with a heart-to-heart chat. By socializing more, you may be inspired to join a group or try an activity that you've never tried before.

Enjoy nurturing yourself and giving yourself a little self-care.

Make the most of this chance to be with those you are close to and also indulge. They can be particularly important are the insights gained as a result of making more time for your self.

The strong desire to volunteer your time to help out another could be a positive. As a result of your kind offer, you could be rewarded with an unexpected opportunity. It could be profitable, too! Meanwhile, you might decide to get serious about saving rather than spending your cash.

A little time spent in reflection could enable you to spot opportunities where you might not have otherwise. You may find yourself in the limelight, so make the most of it. In fact, connection could grant you some visionary ideas that impress someone at the top.

If you do what you say you'll do, you can certainly impress the right people. With wellness and lifestyle matters on the agenda, aiming for efficiency can help you make headway with your goals and plans.

If you're thinking of starting a business or branching out in one you already have, the work you do now can pay big dividends in the future. This can be an opportunity for in-depth research.

You may also tap ideas that could be big earners that you're now in a position to implement.

You need a chance to see things in perspective and make decisions based on what you discover. The present focus encourages you to take a respite from everyday life by giving yourself time to reflect. If you can take a vacation, this might be the ideal time, encouraging you to get away in order to be able to think.

You seem to be getting on particularly well with a certain boss with a positive influence, but your ideas and ideals may differ greatly in some ways. A tempting offer could see you considering a trip somewhere that offers an escape from life.

If you go, you'll likely enjoy it.

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Insekto sa bahay na nakakainis 5 Paglalagay ng apoy sa kandila 10 Katapusan 11 Kaawaawa 13 Tangis 14 Nais 15 Uri ng sitaw 17 Alpeyido ni Mr. Panchito 18 Kasunod ng ikaapat

PABABA 21 International Animal Rescue 22 Ituwid 24 Tauhan sa klab 27 Lugar sa Maynila 30 Kayong manipis 32 _____ de coco 33 Sisiw 35 Pagbuo ng tela 37 Iskapo 38 Kataasan 39 Pinagmulan 40 Panalo

1 Pag-aalaga sa sanggol 2 Simple 3 Pakawalan 4 Maari 6 Nanay 7 Naknak ng sugat 8 Saglit 9 Ilapag 12 Fantaserye sa GMA tungkol sa ibon 16 Pananabik 18 Pananaghili

Volunteer Photographers Wanted Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer & Fort McMurray

Volunteer photographers needed. Build your portfolio or use your expertise to aid the Filipino Journal by photographing special events and concerts. Must have own equipment and transportation. Photo editing skills would be helpful but not required.

The Filipino communities are growing in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer & Fort McMurray. More & more events being passed along our way, we are looking to complement our team with volunteer photographers to cover all those events.

As with any community newspaper, we focus on local events such as community gatherings, picnics, sporting events, press conferences, dinners. Some gigs can be as quick as 15-20 minutes and other can be long, painful & boring. Our goal is to find photographers that we can assign work to on any given story. The majority of the events are during the evenings and weekend.

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19 Muslim Association of Britain 20 Sinasambit pagkataos ng dasal 23 Pambansang dahon 25 Ramdam 26 Lugar sa Japan 28 Ipusta 29 Angil 31 Yapos 34 Alagang hayop sa bahay 36 Ayos

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1 Insekto sa bahay na nakakainis 1 Pag-aalaga sa sanggol 5 Paglalagay ng apoy sa kandila 2 Simple 10 3 Pakawalan Katapusan Sudoku Puzzles are games of patience, numbers and genius! The 11 Kaawaawa 4 Maari satisfaction of solving a challenging Sudoku Puzzle is one of the 13 Tangis 6 Nanay greatest accomplishments any sudoku game player can experience.

14 Nais 7 Naknak ng sugat 15 Uri ng sitaw 8 Saglit Here is the puzzle.

17 Alpeyido ni Mr. PanchitoGood luck!

9 Ilapag 18 Kasunod ng ikaapat 12 Fantaserye sa GMA tungkol sa ibon 21 International Animal Rescue 16 Pananabik 22 Ituwid 18 Pananaghili 24 Tauhan sa klab 19 Muslim Association of Britain 27 Lugar sa Maynila 20 Sinasambit pagkataos ng dasal 30 Kayong manipis 23 Pambansang dahon 32 de coco 25 Ramdam 33 Sisiw 26 Lugar sa Japan 35 Pagbuo ng tela 28 Ipusta 37 Iskapo 29 Angil 38 Kataasan 31 Yapos 39 Pinagmulan 34 Alagang hayop sa bahay 40 Panalo 36 Ayos

As far as compensation is concerned, we’re offering several options and considerations: 1. promotional compensation with photo credits on all photography used in our print and online editions.

3. advertising compensation with supporting photography services ad in our print edition.

4. royalties on any photographs sold through our website (in development).

Interested photographers can submit their name and portfolio to info@FilipinoJournal.com

All photos & articles available online!

Solutions for Palaisipan & Sudoku will be posted online www.FilipinoJournal.com

FilipinoJournal. com

November 2016

The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

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Refused immigration application- What now?

Tony Santiago is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and was the first RCIC of the University of Alberta. You can contact him at www. visasmartimmigration.com

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and how your studies and stay in Canada will help you achieve your academic and professional goals once you finish your studies and return to your country.

Remember, it is important to demonstrate to the officer that your proposed stay in Canada is only temporary because you are only applying for a temporary stay (a study permit allows you to stay in Canada temporarily up to the expiration of the study permit document issued to you). You must prove that you will return to your country or anywhere outside of Canada since you are not a

permanent resident or a Canadian Citizen that can stay in Canada indefinitely. The statement of purpose gives the officer an idea of the purpose of your visit and gives an assurance that you will not insist on staying in Canada beyond your authorized stay.

TIP: a refusal does not mean a permanent NO, it just means you need to think of the reasons why it was refused and address the issues to make it a YES. Good luck and see you in Canada!

Tony Santiago MBA, RCIC

pplying for an immigration document with Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is a process.

This involves 2 steps.

First, the applicant submits an application to IRCC, followed by an officer processing the application package and deciding whether to approve it or not.

Once an application is refused the IRCC is obligated to send an applicant form IMM 5622 or what is known as a “refusal letter “.

Getting a refusal letter is not the end of your Canadian dream.

It simply means that you have one other piece that you need to take care of before you pack your bags and come to Canada.

The refusal letter is an important document that will give you an idea of why the officer thinks you are not qualified to be issued the immigration document.

Do not be afraid of the official tone of the letter. What it merely states is that the following reasons were considered that made the officer decide you do not meet the requirements of the regulations.

This is based on the application that you previously submitted, therefore, it is possible for you to submit another application once you determine the actual deficiencies in the previous one.

There are different reasons for you to be refused. The refusal letter has a checklist of the most common ones and for something that is not on the list there is a section called “other reasons” at the end of the letter where the officer writes a more individualized reason.

Let me discuss one of the most common ones and how you can correct this in your subsequent application. This is the “purpose of visit” piece.

Oftentimes, applicants would submit an application to either study or visit Canada without including a separate letter of explanation outlining the purpose of the visit. So for example, if you are applying for a study permit then you should create a separate document called a “STATEMENT OF PURPOSE”.This document outlines why you want to come to Canada, why the specific course, why this specific institution,

Let's get social

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Greetings

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

They Grow in Wisdom not only in Age

ow time flies as we have celebrated our Octoberians birthday bash!!! Lola Nora Briones on her 88th, Elnis Briones Myles 61, who flew all the way from Portland, Oregon with her hubby Tom also celebrated his 65th last September, Chris Briones 46 in San Francisco. The twins John and Joshua Briones Querijero on their 16th.

Lastly, Imelda Cuaycong, just being grateful for the gift of a blessed life.

Double Birthday Celebrations to A Wonderful Couple Nandy and Gina Marquicias jointly celebrated an evening with family and friends on the occasion of their birthdays at Rolymie Restaurant November 11, 2016. Truly a bonding moments for family and friends.

Congratulations and more success and happiness awaits you in the years to come.

Gina and Nandy with only daughter Melissa

The couple with their family.

Lucky 13!

Harry Hermosado had been thrown with a party by his parents, friends, and classmates during his 13th natal day. His hoarse voice signals that he is at the threshold of adolescence.

Happy birthday Harry!

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

November 2016

Bianca Rose Dublois Celebrates "A Night in Paris"

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ianca Rose turns 18 and celebrates her entry to adulthood at Four Points

by Sheraton Hotel last Saturday, November 18, 2016. Parents Iggy and Hya are so proud of you and your achievements in school that they decided to throw a party complete with 18 Roses and 18 Candle Wishes pageantry. It was an evening with a theme "A Night in Paris", a place you have been dreaming to visit. With all your family, classmates, relatives and friends, the party turned out to be a beautiful charade of fun and entertainment. It was "A Night to Remember"! Congratulations to a well deserving debutante. A wonderful life is awaiting for you, a life full of happiness, success and potentials you truly deserve.

Happy 18th Birthday!

The proud parents of the Debutant, Dobie & Hya Dublois.

The Debutant of the Night ,Miss Bianca Rose Dublois!

The Dublois Family celebrated Bianca's, 18th Birthday!

Happy guests came to celebrate with the Debutant.

Celebrated with some closest friends of the Dublois Family!

Ninia is now a Lady!

Radisson Hotel, Edmonton, November 12, 2016 - Lucky parents Albert and Erica Dizon are truly thanking the Heavenly Giver of Life for being gifted with loving and respectful children like Maria Luzel, the youngest; Bryan Nicole and Brent Michael, the twins; and of course, NINIA PATRICIA, the Debutant.

This very sweet lady was showered with blessings by the presence of her grandparents, relatives, friends, and classmates.

Unlike other debutantes who usually used to gather 18 roses as well as candles to complete the

celebration, this lady just fulfilled her very precious day by being surrounded with a few significant others. Her awareness between the meaning and distinction of life's celebration and luxurious celebration is quite depth. Happy are those who will be influenced by her simplicity because they will also realize that it is where a genuine beauty resides.

Happy 18th birthday Miss Ninia Martinez Dizon!

Few more months, your parents will be counting line-ups at your doorsteps.

Let's get social

Father and Daughter Dance.

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The pulse of the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada

All photos & articles available online!

FilipinoJournal. com

November 2016